June is National Safety Month. The annual observance, led by the National Safety Council, aims to educate and influence behaviors around leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. The theme this year is “What I Live For” and will focus on several important topics, including transportation safety, which is key for those in the fleet business, from managers and drivers to everyone in between.
In time for National Safety Month, Element Fleet Management has compiled seven tips to help reduce rear end collisions. For commercial truck fleets, one of the most frequently occurring accidents in vehicle operation is rear end collisions. In many cases these accidents are the result of tailgating where there was not enough stopping distance available. But it’s not always the fault of the fleet driver. Often times, another vehicle or motorcycle will try to slip in front of the truck without realizing the distance needed for the truck to stop.
Tips to reduce rear end collisions:
♦ Increase the distance between the vehicle you are driving and the vehicle in front of you. Statistics have shown that most drivers keep a 2-second distance between vehicles travelling at speed. The 4-second rule gives the driver a better chance of stopping in time to prevent a collision. How to determine the 4-second rule: Pick out an item on the side of the road, whether it’s a tree or lamp post. When you see the car in front of you go past that tree or post, count off how long it takes you to reach that same marker. Anything less than 4 seconds when travelling at speed could mean that you are following too close to the vehicle in front of you.
♦ Keep your eyes scanning ahead of you as far as possible to detect potential hazards and give yourself time to react if needed.
♦ Always know the location of each vehicle around you, including vehicles behind you.
♦ While stopped at an intersection, always make sure you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you from your normal sitting position. To avoid rear ending the vehicle in front of you if it makes an unexpected stop in the intersection, look left, right and left while counting “123 go” before starting up your vehicle.
♦ If a vehicle cuts you off, stay calm and maintain the correct following distance to include slowing down if needed.
♦ Avoid conversations in your vehicle and thoughts that keep your mind off your driving.
♦ To prevent accidents – or in some cases to define who was at fault – some companies choose to install cameras in the vehicles. There are several companies that market this technology and can provide you with data that will justify the return on investment. This technology can possibly fill in the gaps of ‘who said what’ and what actually happened. However, the accident footage is not always admissible in court.
Tips complied by Allan Wells, regional vice president, Element Fleet Management.
